Rijndri Load of rubbish!!

Onlinewsma Absolutely Brilliant!

AnhartLinkin This story has more twists and turns than a second-rate soap opera.

Ella-May O'Brien Each character in this movie — down to the smallest one — is an individual rather than a type, prone to spontaneous changes of mood and sometimes amusing outbursts of pettiness or ill humor.

harihar90 What begins as a walk-and-talk with two middle-aged strangers at its centre, then turns into something much, much more intriguing. The reason for the intrigue is not the plot itself, but rather (my conception of) the point that the film raises. Should we go along in the ride with characters exploring their (possibly faux?) lives in movies, or should we try to assign a truth value to their story within the world of the film - considering that the world of the film itself is not an 'original' but just a 'copy' in the first place? Is there any point in doing the former, and does art lose it's intrinsic value if we do the latter? Does art have any intrinsic value to lose at all in the first place?...At the hands of a great director and supported by a mercurial performance by Juliette Binoche, the movie should have been something incredible. But sadly, it falls short as the perseverance with which it raises its points about truth distracted me from staying emotionally involved with the characters as I couldn't help but feel that all the interactions were nothing but a play staged to make the film's point about art and truth. A finely-crafted academic exercise, with some intriguing ideas, that left me a bit cold at the end.

richievee "Certified Copy" is true to life, from first frame to last. It plays like two very real people trying to re-explore their abandoned relationship, while leisurely walking through a charming Italian villa that serves as a backdrop. I'm not sure how the film was shot, but it does seem as if non-speaking roles among the supporting cast were taken by extras who just happened to be strolling about town. Some bystanders even appear to be gawking at the camera. This gives "Certified Copy" the look of authenticity, for the viewer becomes a witness to the filmmaker's travelogue while also deeply caring for what happens between Elle and James (Juliette Binoche and William Shimell). I won't give away the end, but my sympathies went to Elle, a sweet single mom who is willing to invest her soul in a man she loves, while the object of her affection, James Miller, finds no one quite as interesting as himself, fascinated by his own wit and intelligence. At one critical point, he puts his arm on Elle's shoulder, and we hope that he is finally learning to open up his heart and share his emotions rather than secluding them within. But "Certified Copy" is never that easy. It is unpredictable and will keep you guessing. I liked this film quite a lot for its sensitive depiction of the vulnerability of love, but don't expect to see quick cuts, fancy camera work, or special effects. "Certified Copy" is a faithful observation of life itself.

mrwillpeters I came across the film when researching a piece I was writing on Plato's ideas of beauty and aesthetics. Although Plato isn't for everyone I thought this film really helped my students understand some of his central concerns relating to the difference between an idea, a reality and an imitation. In our class discussions on Plato's notions of Mimesis and Diegesis, this film greatly helped. The film forces us to wonder to what extent the relationship between the two central characters is real, or an imitation of a once real relationship. It asks is a real relationship any better than a certified copy i.e a fake relationship where both parties pretend it is real. That is the central question - the value of the authentic versus the value of the fake.

cix_one While the movie poses a few interesting questions along the way (the one alluded to by the title being one of them), it overpowered me with its sheer contempt for the rational. I believe that if the movie made sense, all of a sudden it wouldn't be considered "good" by its admirers. Open-endedness can be a powerful artistic tool in skilled hands, but this movie is open wide from one end to the other. Married? Lovers? Kinky sadists? Divorced? Make up your own story because the director is not. Nor does he give you consistent material to work with, you'll need to do some heavy editing if you want your story to hold water. Exhausting.